Investigation of postglacial fault zones using DInSAR

Background

Fennoscandia bears witness of the Pleistocene glaciation in the form of a series of large geological faults. Pärvie which is the longest runs for 150 km. No information is available on its state of activity and no surface deformations data have ever been collected. The length of the fault and its location, make the traditional monitoring techniques unfeasible and ineffective.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to detect small deformations, around a major young faults, in an area of large postglacial adjustment motion, using advanced interferometric techniques (A-DInSAR)

Methods

Analysis of the seismological records from the Swedish National Seismic Network

Results

Promising results have been achieved in the application of the differential interferometry technique over the Pärvie fault. Deformation fringes attributed to crustal deformations have been detected over three segments of the fault showing a continuous very slow uplifting and a slight tilting of the ground at the western flank.

Conclusions

DInSAR analysis contributed to enlarge the observational database of contemporary measurement of GIA in a global perspective, providing relevant information otherwise impossible to collect. Our findings contribute to the pre-studies of the DAFNE post-glacial fault drilling project, which aims at bring clarity as to the prevailing state of stress in this mega-fault complex.